Contact Us

Business Services and Financial Services

The recent financial crisis has changed how financial institutions compete and pursue growth opportunities. Consumers and business customers alike now value strength and stability more highly than the opportunity for vast gains, and financial institutions must adjust accordingly.

The Lucas Group helps them do that by buttressing key services or capabilities, and by undertaking targeted cost reductions. We work with business and financial services clients to:

• Create and use market intelligence
• Determine the opportunities and costs of improved technology platforms
• Advise on targeted M&A activity
• Understand customer priorities in order to secure deeper relationships and loyalty

Consumer Products

Consumer spending has clearly tightened up since the recent recession, as shoppers are more demanding and more informed than ever. Complicating the situation, retailer consolidation has put increased pressure on suppliers in terms of pricing, delivery, and other conditions. And manufacturers also face increased competition from retailers’ private label goods.

We work with consumer products companies to navigate this complex marketplace, along a number of fronts, including:

• Brand and product portfolio strategy
• Supply chain management
• Cost reduction
• Price optimization
• Competitive analysis

Distribution and Retail

Consumer spending remains tight since the recent recession and consumers also can more readily comparison-shop on the Web. So margins remain under pressure, forcing more distributors and retailers to consolidate.

The Lucas Group works with distributors and retailers to bring greater value to their customers through improvements in the following areas:

• Store formats and operations
• Sourcing and supply chain management
• Cost reduction
• Price optimization
• Geographic expansion
• Multi-channel strategies
• Acquisition strategy

Healthcare

The U.S. healthcare industry is undergoing major change with the increased role of government in both insurance and delivery, as well as continued pressures to reduce costs while improving medical outcomes.

The Lucas Group works with healthcare organizations on several fronts, including:

• Greater automation of hospital records and processes
• Understanding and dealing with the effect of government’s greater presence in delivery
• Outsourcing non-core operations

Transportation and Logistics

Transportation and logistics has solid long-term growth prospects driven by several trends, notably increased globalization, more demand for just-in-time delivery, and an increase in outsourcing logistics. On the flip side, players in this industry face challenges ranging from asset intensity to new security and trade compliance requirements to the effects of new infrastructure investments, such as the Panama Canal expansion project.  And boundaries are eroding as many carriers, third-party logistics firms, forwarders, and other intermediaries are crossing into adjacent activities in an attempt to offer end-to-end logistics solutions.

The Lucas Group works with providers to gain an advantage in this shifting landscape by developing:

• Growth strategy initiatives
• Customer segmentation and marketing initiatives to create differentiated offerings
• Acquisition evaluations and integration efforts
• Portfolio rationalization for companies with a diverse set of divisions offering various services along the supply chain